"Perhaps the most important keys to success are practice and commitment. If you are willing to put in the time, I promise to help you succeed." -Spoken by a debate teacher, Mr. Colasanti, to his team.
Positive reinforcement is a tool used by not only teachers, but parents, mentors, and bosses. In life we need people to cheer us on and let us know that we are doing a good job. Sure, it takes on a different role throughout every different age group, but is still an important foundation in learning and growing.
Teaching students the role that effort plays in achieving goals lets them know that when they do their best it is going to get them somewhere, that the little things do not go unnoticed. Some ways to do this are: ~Give examples of personal experience, ways that you as a teacher and mentor persevered when something was tough. Too often kids think that they are the only ones having a difficult time, when we share our own experiences, they see that they are not alone.
~Look towards movies or famous people to show stories of success (Rudy, the football movie about the Notre Dame student that wanted so badly to make the team)
~For younger students, the never fail book to read is "The Little Engine that Could". He never gave up, and reinforcing effort is all about teaching young ones to believe in themselves, no matter the situation.
Provide goals for students to reach when a topic or subject matter is mastered, this works for all ages. Some examples are: Ice Cream Party Pajama Day Stuffed Animal Day Extra Recess (good for teacher and student)
Great Ideas for Older Students:
*Classroom money system: -earn money for being at school -earn money for completing work -earn money for neat desks and good manners *Have students make their own effort and achievement rubric -Rubistar offers a very easy to follow rubric maker, this way they can "grade" themselves and determine how hard they are trying and link that to what goals they are achieving
Have their peers give compliments! Fill the jars with warm and fuzzy remarks and read them aloud and send them home for parents to see! We all need some love and support from our friends:)
Extra Reinforcement From Teachers: *Point out their areas of improvement in addition to areas they have mastered *Give students different ways to demonstrate their knowledge of subject matter. We all learn differently! *Give multiple chances, Help them to learn from their mistakes. Always try, try again!
The Importance of Reinforcing Effort
"Perhaps the most important keys to success are practice and commitment. If you are willing to put in the time, I promise to help you succeed."
-Spoken by a debate teacher, Mr. Colasanti, to his team.
Positive reinforcement is a tool used by not only teachers, but parents, mentors, and bosses. In life we need people to cheer us on and let us know that we are doing a good job. Sure, it takes on a different role throughout every different age group, but is still an important foundation in learning and growing.
Teaching students the role that effort plays in achieving goals lets them know that when they do their best it is going to get them somewhere, that the little things do not go unnoticed. Some ways to do this are:
~Give examples of personal experience, ways that you as a teacher and mentor persevered when something was tough. Too often kids think that they are the only ones having a difficult time, when we share our own experiences, they see that they are not alone.
~Look towards movies or famous people to show stories of success (Rudy, the football movie about the Notre Dame student that wanted so badly to make the team)
~For younger students, the never fail book to read is "The Little Engine that Could". He never gave up, and reinforcing effort is all about teaching young ones to believe in themselves, no matter the situation.
Provide goals for students to reach when a topic or subject matter is mastered, this works for all ages. Some examples are:
Ice Cream Party
Pajama Day
Stuffed Animal Day
Extra Recess (good for teacher and student)
Great Ideas for Older Students:
*Classroom money system:
-earn money for being at school
-earn money for completing work
-earn money for neat desks and good manners
*Have students make their own effort and achievement rubric
-Rubistar offers a very easy to follow rubric maker, this way they can "grade" themselves and determine how hard they are trying and link that to what goals they are achieving
Have their peers give compliments! Fill the jars with warm and fuzzy remarks and read them aloud and send them home for parents to see! We all need some love and support from our friends:)
Extra Reinforcement From Teachers:
*Point out their areas of improvement in addition to areas they have mastered
*Give students different ways to demonstrate their knowledge of subject matter. We all learn differently!
*Give multiple chances, Help them to learn from their mistakes. Always try, try again!